Devon Birdwatching and Preservation Society
Encyclopedia
The Devon Bird Watching & Preservation Society, also known as Devon Birds, is one the UK
's regional ornithological
societies.
, England in 1928, making it one of the oldest ornithological societies in the country. It organises lectures, field trips and research, and publishes newsletters bimonthly and reports three times a year. It is a registered charity
, number 228966. The society's logo is a Montagu's Harrier
. The differences between the hen harrier
and the Montagu's were first described by George Montagu, a naturalist based in Kingsbridge
.
It is responsible for, or is involved in, a number of reserves. These include South Milton Ley
; a site at Prawle Point
; a hide at Fernworthy Reservoir on Dartmoor
; a site at Bradiford
; and a ringing hut
at Slapton Ley
, data from which has been passed to the British Trust for Ornithology
since 1960 for inclusion in national and international records and studies.
The society is a member of the Devon Biodiversity Steering Group and provides data to various environmental plans initiated by Devon County Council
—for instance, in 2005 it contributed data to the Devon Biodiversity Action Plan.http://www.devon.gov.uk/index/environmentplanning/natural_environment/biodiversity/devon_biodiversity_action_plan.htm In 1993 and 2003 the society was a major partner in the Barn Owl
surveys undertaken in Devon by the Barn Owl Trust, and in 2009 it is helping fund a project to boost the birds' numbers in West Devon.
In 2002 it was reported in the national press that Gordon Vaughan, a chairman of the society, and one of Devon's most respected ornithologists, had discovered that dormice
, newly emerged from hibernation, were eating the eggs of pied flycatchers, a rare bird in Devon.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
's regional ornithological
Ornithology
Ornithology is a branch of zoology that concerns the study of birds. Several aspects of ornithology differ from related disciplines, due partly to the high visibility and the aesthetic appeal of birds...
societies.
History and work
The society was formed for birdwatchers and ornithologists in DevonDevon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, England in 1928, making it one of the oldest ornithological societies in the country. It organises lectures, field trips and research, and publishes newsletters bimonthly and reports three times a year. It is a registered charity
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
, number 228966. The society's logo is a Montagu's Harrier
Montagu's Harrier
The Montagu's Harrier is a migratory bird of prey of the harrier family. Its common name commemorates the British naturalist George Montagu.-Plumage:...
. The differences between the hen harrier
Hen Harrier
The Hen Harrier or Northern Harrier is a bird of prey. It breeds throughout the northern parts of the northern hemisphere in Canada and the northernmost USA, and in northern Eurasia. This species is polytypic, with two subspecies. Marsh Hawk is a historical name for the American form.It migrates...
and the Montagu's were first described by George Montagu, a naturalist based in Kingsbridge
Kingsbridge
Kingsbridge is a market town and popular tourist hub in the South Hams district of Devon, England, with a population of about 5,800. It is situated at the northern end of the Kingsbridge Estuary, which is a textbook example of a ria and extends to the sea six miles south of the town.-History:The...
.
It is responsible for, or is involved in, a number of reserves. These include South Milton Ley
South Milton Ley
South Milton Ley is a wetland in the South Hams, Devon, England. It was notified as a Site of Special Scientific Interest in 1976. Part of the site is managed as a nature reserve by the Devon Birdwatching and Preservation Society.-Site description:...
; a site at Prawle Point
Prawle Point
Prawle Point is a coastal headland in south Devon, EnglandIt is the southernmost point of Devon.Access is from the village of East Prawle along a single-track road, at the end of which a National Trust car park is present....
; a hide at Fernworthy Reservoir on Dartmoor
Dartmoor reservoirs
Over the course of the 19th and 20th centuries, a number of reservoirs and dams were built in the area now covered by Dartmoor National Park in Devon, England to supply drinking water to the rapidly growing towns in the surrounding lowlands. With its deep valleys and high rainfall, Dartmoor was an...
; a site at Bradiford
Bradiford
Bradiford is a village in Devon, England....
; and a ringing hut
Bird ringing
Bird ringing or bird banding is a technique used in the study of wild birds, by attaching a small, individually numbered, metal or plastic tag to their legs or wings, so that various aspects of the bird's life can be studied by the ability to re-find the same individual later...
at Slapton Ley
Slapton Ley
Slapton Ley is a lagoon on the south coast of Devon, England, separated from Start Bay by a shingle beach, known as Slapton Sands.It is the largest natural freshwater lake in South West England....
, data from which has been passed to the British Trust for Ornithology
British Trust for Ornithology
The British Trust for Ornithology is an organisation founded in 1932 for the study of birds in the British Isles.-Activities:The BTO carries out research into the lives of birds, chiefly by conducting population and breeding surveys and by bird ringing, largely carried out by a large number of...
since 1960 for inclusion in national and international records and studies.
The society is a member of the Devon Biodiversity Steering Group and provides data to various environmental plans initiated by Devon County Council
Devon County Council
Devon County Council is the county council administering the English county of Devon. Based in the city of Exeter, the council covers the non-metropolitan county area of Devon...
—for instance, in 2005 it contributed data to the Devon Biodiversity Action Plan.http://www.devon.gov.uk/index/environmentplanning/natural_environment/biodiversity/devon_biodiversity_action_plan.htm In 1993 and 2003 the society was a major partner in the Barn Owl
Barn Owl
The Barn Owl is the most widely distributed species of owl, and one of the most widespread of all birds. It is also referred to as Common Barn Owl, to distinguish it from other species in the barn-owl family Tytonidae. These form one of two main lineages of living owls, the other being the typical...
surveys undertaken in Devon by the Barn Owl Trust, and in 2009 it is helping fund a project to boost the birds' numbers in West Devon.
In 2002 it was reported in the national press that Gordon Vaughan, a chairman of the society, and one of Devon's most respected ornithologists, had discovered that dormice
Dormouse
Dormice are rodents of the family Gliridae. Dormice are mostly found in Europe, although some live in Africa and Asia. They are particularly known for their long periods of hibernation...
, newly emerged from hibernation, were eating the eggs of pied flycatchers, a rare bird in Devon.
Notable members
Past and present- Tony Soper - DBWPS President 1969-1970Tony SoperTony Soper is a naturalist, author and broadcaster from Plymouth in England. Born 10 January 1929, he was educated at Hyde Park Elementary School and at Devonport High School, both in Plymouth...
- Dr. Janet Kear OBE - DBWPS President 1995-2003Janet KearJanet Kear , OBE, was an English ornithologist.Kear was born in London, and was educated at Walthamstow Hall, Sevenoaks, Caspar Junior College, Wyoming, King's College London and then Girton College, Cambridge where she obtained her Ph.D...
Publications
- Bi-monthly Bulletin http://www.devonbirds.org/publishing
- Devon Birds published three times a year and incorporating the Annual Report http://www.devonbirds.org/node/119
See also
- LundyLundyLundy is the largest island in the Bristol Channel, lying off the coast of Devon, England, approximately one third of the distance across the channel between England and Wales. It measures about at its widest. Lundy gives its name to a British sea area and is one of the islands of England.As of...
Conservation work part funded by Devon Birds - South Milton LeySouth Milton LeySouth Milton Ley is a wetland in the South Hams, Devon, England. It was notified as a Site of Special Scientific Interest in 1976. Part of the site is managed as a nature reserve by the Devon Birdwatching and Preservation Society.-Site description:...
SSSI part managed as a nature reserve by Devon Birds